Manufacture of rayon



A. L JACKSON I 2,293,982

MANUFACTURE OF RAYON Filed April 19, 1940 atented Aug. 25, 1942 ArthurL. Jackson, West Asheyille, N. 0., assignor to American EnkaCorporation, Erika, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application April19, 1940, Serial No. 330,596

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of continuous filaments, yarns,threads and the like,

and more particularly to apparatus for heating and drying succeedingportions of such materials.

While it will be readily recognized that-this invention is applicable toand of considerable importance in the various arts and industries inwhich the heat treatment of succeeding portions of a continuous materialis a problem, regardits manufacture may take a number of forms and maybe supported from either one or both ends; It has been found, however,that a cantilever support is quite desirable in that, incident to itsuse, threading up is facilitated and attendance of the machine by theoperator is rendered more convenient. The continuous spinningdevelopment as a whole has metwith outstanding success and, as a resultof the adoption of the new less of whether such materials be in strip,band 10 system, improved materials are produci-ble while or thread form;it is of even greater importance operating costs have been reduced. inthe rayon industry where it may be employed It will be recognized thatit is quite important, as a very valuable adjunct to the various liquidf e dvantages of the continuous sp treatment operations to which rayonthreads are processes are to be exploited to the fullest exsubjected inthe course of their manufacture. l5 tent, a t e enti e t eatme t of t ere d be It has long been customary to subject artificial accomplished ina continuous manner without infilaments to a drying operation afterthe-completermediate packaging for any steps, even for the tion orintermediate the various liquid treatments final step o y ng. The reasonfor this is that incident to their manufacture. However, the rev r ionto the old treatin syst m. ven i prior practice employed in performingthis oper- 2 pa Will result in a return to the ve y disadation usuallyinvolved the extrusion and coag'ulatages of such systems wh c Co t Sption of the cellulosic material followed by the ning is designed toavoid. ,Thus, it is necessary winding of the same into a yarn package orcake. t a drie which will dry succeeding Portions The package was thentreated with various liqof a continuous filament upon completion of theuids and finally subjected to an atmosphere suit- Various prior p fo aComponent P Of able for effecting the drying of the component ch o oussp nni System15 yam thereof. As a result of this practice, early Severalsuch driers have been develop and developments with respect to thedrying of rayon hey more or less paralle in f d Operation threads werelargely concerned with either the the -S o thread-advancing devicespreparation of apparatus for the production of used in conjunction withliquid treatment. Howsuitable drying atmospheres for the treatment ofever, driers Of this r cter, as known today, the thread package or thpreparation ,of th are characterized by one or more disadvantages.package itself in such a way that the thread Either the heating means issatisfactory insofar composing the game might b tr ted nd dried as thetreatment of the thread is concerned while as efiiciently and asuniformly as possible. the ans fo appl i t h at t t th ad- In recentyears, the demands of the various r ge, hread-advancing device iscumbersome arts in which rayon threads are used have beandiheflicieht;1' e e heat Supplying means come progressively more severe and the newcriis Satisfactory, but the thread contacti ea s teria as to strengthand uniformity are diflicult is modified in such a way as to interferewith of attainment by the employment of the older Other P s o e Spapparatilstype methods and apparatus To meet these (13- This inventioncontemplates overcoming 8.11 Of Ina-Dds, extensive changes have beenmade in the the difiiculties outlined above, and involves the processesand apparatus for the manufacture of drying of rayon or other threadquickly, efiicientrayon, so that'it is now possible for a continuous yand at fo y o t ol e t p a s by yarn to be passed in succession, withoutinter-' e mpl y t of app wh h is h per to ruption or intermediatecollection, from a spinconstruct, easier to control and superior inperneret to a number of thread-storage, thread-'adformance to devicesheretofore known and used vancing devices in association with each ofwhich for the same or similar purposes. the thread is subjected to oneor more treat- It is an object of this invention to provide a mentswhich may be in the form ofliquid-baths, drier in which a threadcontacting member may liquid sprays or drying operations, and finally tobe immediately supported at one end only therea collecting device onwhich it is wound in a of and a heating fluid may be supplied teaminform suitable for shipment to the consumer. terior cavity of thecontacting member through The thread-storage, thread-advancing devicesthe other end thereof. By t s arrangement, the on which rayon is treatedduring the course of manyedvantages of he c ntilever type reel may beretained while the use of complicated and inefiicient packing glandssurrounding the feed tubes and drain tubes of driers known to the priorart may be avoided.

According to this invention, the heating fluid supplied to the threadcontacting member may be furnished and withdrawn at any rate deemeddesirable, while the contacting member itself is light, thin and strongfor eflicient heat exchange and easy operation.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a thread contactingmember overv which thread may be drawn to be dried in heat exchangerelationship therewith. While the thread contacting member may be eitherdriven or freely rotatable, the means for supplying and withdrawingheating fluid therefrom are stationary, and consequently do not have tobe provided with the elaborate leak-preventing means which are normallyassociated with a driven shaft around which, or along which, fluids arecaused to pass.

While it will be recognized that this invention has wide applicabilityto all types of drying operations wherein a continuous filament, threador the like is passed across a heating member, the present developmentis of particular value in connection with and as an adjunct to thecontinuous spinning methods and apparatus constituting thesubject-matter of Adrian J. L. Moritz et al. application, Serial Number322,386, filed March 5, 1940.-

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description in conjunction withadvancing device; and a V Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 33 ofFigure 2.

The thread-storage, thread-advancing device shown in Figure 1 is ofcantilever construction device in a direction toward the unobstructedends of the rollers. Because of the manner in which the timev d is fed,it passes across any given thread-storage, thread-advancing device in agenerally helical path, contacting each roller a plurality of times. Theshafts are mounted for relative adjustment for the purpose of permittingthe control of the feed on the thread and the spacing of the helices.This may be accomplished by the pivotal adjustment of the mounting 22 inwhich shaft 2| is journaled. For this reason it is customary to driveonly one of the rollers constituting the device, the other roller beingdriven by the thread passing therearound. Thus, roller I5 is providedwith bevel gear 20 which meshes with a gear 23 keyed to shaft 24 whichis driven and supported in a manner not shown. The motion imparted toroller IE will, through thread in, drive roller l6 which is journaledfor free rotation in bracket 22.

In order to heat. and therefore dry the thread passing across roller ISa pipe 25 is provided, the nozzle 26 of which discharges in the hollowinterior cavity defined by the cylindrical walls of roller l5 and piece[1. This pipe is stationary and may be attached in any feasible mannerto a' suitable portion of the supporting structure. It is important thatthe pipe 25 be firmly held so that it may maintain its axial position inroller I5 without striking against either shaft l8 or the annular baiile21 which extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical walls of rollerl5 at the unsupported end thereof to function as a dam. Annular baffle21 is provided with a flared lip 28 which leads into an arcuate trough29 aflixed to the channel bar [3. A drain pipe 30, supported in anysuitable manner from the machine frame, leads from the lowest point oftrough- 29.

When it is desired to dry thread [0 on the thread-storage,thread-advancing device shown in the annexed drawing, shaft 24 is drivenso that, through gears 23 and 20, shaft I8 and roller IE will be causedto rotate. Thread I0 is then passed around rollers 15 and IS in agenerally helical and may constitute one of a series'of such devices onwhich thread I0 is treated in its passage from a spinneret to acollecting device. To support the various thread-storage,thread-advancing devices constituting the machine, a frame I I isprovided, a portion of which is shown in Figure 1.

' Extending upwardly from a projection I2 of frame II is a channel barl3 fastened at its upper end to a transverse piece I4.

Channel bar l-3 is the supporting member for hollow roller l5 and rollerl6 which together constitute the thread-storage, thread-advancingdevice. Roller l5 is provided with an end piece I1 which seals one endthereof and to which a shaft 18 is keyed. Shaft l8 passes through and isJournaled in bracket l9, aflixed to channel bar II. An end of shaft [8extends beyond bracket i9 and has fixed thereto a bevel gear 20.

Roller 16 is supported in a manner similar to roller l5,.shaft 2| beingkeyed to roller l5 and extending through channel bar l3 to a bracket 22mounted upon a rotatable shaft wherein it is suitably Journaled.

It will be noted that rollers l5 and I6 have their axes, shafts l8 and2| respectivehr, in converging relationship. Thread ID, when passed overthe rollers as shown in Figure 1, will be fed axially of thethread-storage, thread-advancing path. Said thread is then fed towardthe unsupported end of the device where it is drawn off and eithercollected or passed to another treating device. A heating fluid such ashot water is passed through pipe 25 and ejected into the hollow interiorof roller l5 through nozzle 26. The fluid will collect in the bottom ofthe roller as shown in Figure 2 until the level is raised to such anextent that an overflow of fluid will occur over annular bafile 21,across lip 28 and into trough 29 from which it will drain by gravitythrough drain 20. The liquid issuing from drain 30 may be eitherreheated and recirculated through pipe 25 or else permitted to waste.

Because of the fact that roller I5 is rotating during the time that theheating liquid is passed therein through pipe 25 and flows therefromover baflle 21, a thin film of hot liquid will adhere to the interiorsurface of the cylinder to assist in the maintenance of the roller atthe temperature of the heating fluid. In view of the fact that roller I5is supported entirely from the free or unobstructed. end by virtue ofthe keyed connection between shaft I8 and end piece H, the walls of thecylinder themselves may be quite thin. This, of course favors heatexchange through such walls so that the amount of heat imparted to thethread l0 in its passage across the roller l5 can be accuratelycontrolled by controlling the temperature of the water entering throughpipe 25 and nozzle 26. Thaamount of water trapped shown in Figure 2 sothat a good volume of water will be available to maintain a giventemperature. It will be recogniz ad that the heating means disclosed isequally applicable with respect to a freely rotating roller such asroller Hi. In this instance, it may be desirable to have baffle 21 alittle lower so that the amount of trapped liquid and consequently theweight of the roller as a Whole may be less. In the event a freelyrotatable roller is to be heated, the advantage in supporting the rollerfrom its unobstructed end in the manner disclosed is emphasized sincethe use of light materials in such a case is quite desirable. It is, ofcourse, to be understood that the rollers l5 and I6 may, if desired, beconically shaped. When such conical rollers are employed th delivery ofthe fluid into the roller to be heated, and the drainage of the usedliquid therefrom, may be accomplished in the same manner as describedand illustrated in connection with the cylindrical rollers.

In some instances, both the driven and freely rotatable rollers may beheated and, in addition to heating only the thread passing across thethread-storage, thread-advancing device, liquids sprayed upon thethreads may likewise be raised in temperature. 3

The above-description of a preferred embodiment of this invention is butfor purposes of illustration and it is not intended that the scope ofthe invention be limited beyond the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

, 1. Thread drying apparatus comprising at least two rollers ofcantilever construction at least one of which is hollow, said rollershaving their supported ends wholly closed and exteriorly unobstructed,the rollers being mounted so that their axes are in non-parellelrelationship to advance the thread laterally thereof in a generallyhelical path, means for introducing a heating liquid into the interiorof the hollow roller through the ,unsupported end thereof and an outletfor said liquid.

2. Thread drying apparatus comprising at least two rollers of cantileverconstruction, at least one of which is hollow, each roller having oneend wholly exteriorly unobstructed and supporting a predetermined amountof the liquid within the roller and an outlet for excess liquid.

4. Thread drying apparatus comprising at least two rollers of cantileverconstruction at least one of which is hollow, each roller having one endwholly closed and exteriorly unobstructed and supporting means attachedto, and rotatable with, that end, the supporting means of said hollowroller extending axially therethrough and attached only at the end ofthe roller remote from the point of entrance of said support, therollers being mounted so that their axes are in nonparallel relationshiptoadvance the thread laterally thereof in a generally helical path,means for supplying a heating liquid to the inner surface of the hollowroller through the unsupported end thereof, an annular baffle extendingradially inwardly at the open end of said roller for retaining apredetermined amount of the liquid therein, and an outlet for liquid inexcess of that retained by said baffle.

5. Thread drying apparatus comprising at least two rollers of cantileverconstruction, at least one of which is hollow, eachroller having one endwholly closed and exteriorly unobstructed and supporting means attachedto, and rotatable with, that end, the rollers being mounted so thattheir axes are in non-parallel relationship to advance the threadlaterally thereof in a generally helical path, an annular baffleextending radially inwardly at the open end of the hollow roller,

- a stationary conduit extending into and adapted ing means attached to,and rotatable with, that end, the rollers being mounted so that theiraxes .are in non-parallel relationship to advance the thread laterallythereof in a generally helical path, means forsupplying a heating liquidto. the interior of the hollow roller through the unsupported endthereof and an outlet for said liquid.

- 3. Thread drying apparatus comprising at least two rollers ofcantilever construction, at least one or which is hollow, each rollerhaving one end wholly closed and exteriorly unobstructed and supportingmeans attached to, and rotatable with, that end, the rollersbeingmounted so that their axes are in non-parallel relationship to advancethe thread laterally thereof in a generally helical path, means forsupplying a heating liquid to the interior of the hollow roller throughthe unsupported end thereof, means for retainto discharge within thehollow interior and contact the inner surface of said roller, means forsupplying heating liquid to said conduit, and stationary means disposedadjacent the baflie for receiving liquid issuing thereover.

6. Thread drying apparatus comprising two rollers of cantileverconstruction at least one of which is hollow and at least one of whichis power driven, each roller having one end wholly closed and exteriorlyunobstructed and supporting means attached to, and-rotatable with, thatend, the rollers being mounted so that their axes are in non-parallelrelationship to advance the thread laterally thereof in a generallyhelical path, the other end of the hollow roller being unsupported andsubstantially open and having an annular baflle associatedtherewith,said baflle extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall, saidsupporting means comprising a shaft extending axially through saidhollow roller and attached to the closed end only, means for drivingsaid shaft, a stationary conduit extending into the interior of thehollow roller, a nozzle on said conduit adapted to discharge withinssaidhollow interior, means for supplying a hot liquid to said conduit forejection within said. roller, and means defining an annular troughadjacent the open end of the roller and radially disposed therebelow,said trough being attached to a stationary support, whereby a cantileverthreadstorage, thread-advancing device havin heating means in at leastone of the rollers thereof may be provided without interference with theunobstructed end and without the necessity for'leakpreventing meansassociated withmovable parts.

ARTHUR L. JACKSON.

